In the afterglow of Sunday's 31-26 win at San Diego, it's still difficult to label the Ravens.
Is the once-feared defense showing some cracks after allowing so many big plays? Who should be the lead running back, Ray Rice or Willis McGahee? Has the Ravens' offense taken over the personality of this team?
As the Ravens (2-0) sit atop the AFC North, there's only one identity that can't be disputed: They're establishing themselves as one of the best road teams in the NFL.
Since Week 7 of last season, the Ravens have won eight of 10 games on the road (including playoffs). No team has won more road games since Oct. 19, 2008, and only the Miami Dolphins (5-1) have a better road winning percentage.
"It's an interesting phenomenon when a team has a certain maturity level and a confidence in one another," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "We're not going to let each other down. You find a way to win. How do you put a finger on it? I don't know. You just know when you see it."
That look had not been evident in many of the seasons before Harbaugh's arrival. From 2004 to 2005, the Ravens lost 11 straight games on the road. In 2007, they were 1-7 away from home.
In Harbaugh's first season, the Ravens not only won away from home, but they also overcame some pressure situations. They ruined the last game at Texas Stadium for the Dallas Cowboys. They won two road games during the playoffs, celebrating at Miami and at Tennessee.
Then, on Sunday, the Ravens beat the odds again in winning at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium, where Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers had been 22-5 (.814).
"We've got a bunch of guys that know what it takes and play together as a team and don't let little things get them out of focus," tight end Todd Heap said. "It's just a sign of a good team and one that is getting better."
Here are three reasons the Ravens are among the best road warriors in the NFL:
Joe Flacco's poise
The ultimate test of a quarterback's composure is playing on the road. Flacco makes it look as if he is playing in his backyard instead of before 70,000 hostile fans. That's why he became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to win two road playoff games.
Flacco's predecessor, Kyle Boller, never enjoyed the same success on the road because he had a more frenetic style. He finished his Ravens career by losing his last 10 starts away from home. During that road skid, Boller threw eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
